CHAPTER 6: The Shadow In The Throne Room
Emperor Tian Jun sat upon the imperial throne within the vast Grand Hall.
The hall was magnificent—pillars carved with ancient dragons rose toward the high ceiling, while banners of countless sects and noble houses hung proudly along the walls.
Yet despite the grandeur, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
The hall was filled with noise.
Sect leaders from across the realm had gathered here today, along with members of the imperial court and even several royal dignitaries. Normally such figures carried themselves with great dignity, but today whispers and murmurs filled the chamber like restless waves.
Every conversation revolved around the same matter.
The corpse.
More specifically… the corpse whose blood had completely vanished.
Rumors had spread like wildfire.
"How can blood… simply vanish from a corpse?" Sect Leader Gong Lu whispered, his brows tightly knit.
"Exactly," Sect Leader Sakuya replied quietly beside him. "It sounds impossible… yet also terrifying."
"Well, you'd better start believing it."
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
Both Gong Lu and Sakuya turned around.
Standing there was a striking young man dressed in yellow robes embroidered with golden patterns.
His posture was proud, his expression confident, almost mocking.
It was none other than LanFa.
Since the incident with the corpse, LanFa had fallen ill for several days. Rarely did he speak of that night. Yet now he stood here, appearing perfectly composed.
He stepped closer and raised two fingers, pointing them toward his own eyes.
"I saw it with my own two eyes."
His tone was calm, yet arrogant.
LanFa gave a careless shrug.
"Yes, it was quite horrifying," he said lightly. "But perhaps only for the likes of you."
He brushed his hair back with a small flick of his head.
"People like me see things far worse every day."
Then he waved a dismissive hand.
"So you'd better be careful. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll encounter something like that yourselves."
He stepped past them.
"Now… out of my way."
Without another glance, LanFa walked off through the hall, his golden robes swaying behind him.
The two sect leaders exchanged glances.
Gong Lu leaned slightly closer to Sakuya and lowered his voice.
"I heard he got sick after seeing that corpse," he whispered. "They say he didn't even stay long enough to examine it… and couldn't stop vomiting."
Sakuya suppressed a small cough.
"So much for someone who 'sees things like that every day.'"
Their whispers vanished into the rising noise of the Grand Hall, where rumors continued to spread like an approaching storm.
And above it all, Emperor Tian Jun sat silently upon his throne, watching the gathering with unreadable eyes.
"Bloody corpse… blood vanished… How? How did they know?" Shen Hua Lan's voice was sharp, tinged with frustration. His eyes blazed as he stared at his attendants.
"I told you all—not a single word from my mansion was to be spread outside!. Then how did the news get out?"
"Master S-Shen… I… I truly cannot understand," one attendant stammered, bowing low. "No one knew besides us. No one should have known."
Shen Hua Lan's expression darkened further. "It must be… that Shadow Controller." His hands clenched at his sides, his restraint wearing thin.
Tian Jun exhaled slowly, weariness etched across his face. "Where is he?" His voice, calm yet commanding, filled the room. "He should have arrived. This time… I will not tolerate delay."
Every head in the hall knew whom the Emperor meant. Shadow Controller… Arata Kurogami.
"Your Majesty," an attendant bowed, speaking carefully, "he will arrive. Word has reached us."
Tian Jun inclined his head slightly, eyes narrowing. He leaned back against the throne and closed them, the faintest crease of thought on his brow.
Nearby, Sect Leader Xu Min let out a faint scoff, muttering to his loyal attendant.
"Hmph… Just a little favor, and he gets spoiled. Seriously… if it were anyone else, we'd have already lost our heads… or our freedom. But him… Hmph."
"The Emperor favors him far too much," the servant Bai Xu said quietly.
"Duh," Xu Min scoffed under his breath. "One day, that man will be the cause of rebellion."
"Where is he?" Lan Fa asked as he walked over and stood beside Shen Hua Lan. "Why is he taking so long? What happened to him? I want to go home already."
"Dead," Shen Hua Lan replied flatly.
Lan Fa's eyes lit up with sudden excitement. "Please let that be true. I would love nothing more than to hear that shadow freak has finally died."
Shen Hua Lan glanced at him coldly.
"Then go and kill him."
"Tch. Easy for you to say," Lan Fa muttered.
He stepped behind Shen Hua Lan and casually placed his hands on his shoulders. Stretching his right arm forward so it entered Shen Hua Lan's line of sight, he pointed toward the grand entrance of the hall.
Then, in an exaggerated narrator's voice, he said,
"Imagine this: in a few seconds, a servant rushes in and loudly announces—"
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"'The Shadow Controller, Arata Kurogami, has died for unknown reasons. He is no more.'"
Lan Fa released Shen Hua Lan and stepped in front of him again, a grin spreading across his face.
"That," he said eagerly, "would truly be a dream come true. I can't wait for the day it happens."
Just then, Shen Hua Lan's gaze shifted toward the entrance.
"Oh, look," he said calmly. "A servant."
He tilted his head slightly and gestured with his eyes for Lan Fa to turn around.
"I wonder what he's about to announce… his death… or his arrival."
Lan Fa turned around just as a servant hurried through the grand entrance.
"Care to make a bet?" Shen Hua Lan's voice drifted softly beside his ear, low and indifferent. "What will he announce… alive, or dead?"
"Shh!" Lan Fa whispered quickly, eyes fixed ahead. "Let me hear… Ah, please let him be dead…"
Behind him, Shen Hua Lan merely rolled his eyes, his expression cold.
"Shadow Controller—!"
The servant's voice rang through the hall.
Lan Fa leaned forward slightly, listening with bated breath.
"—has arrived!"
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Then—
"Would you look at that," Shen Hua Lan said calmly, a faint hint of mockery in his tone. "It's his arrival."
"Agh!" Lan Fa groaned in disappointment.
At that moment, a figure stepped into the hall.
Arata Kurogami.
Clad entirely in black, he walked forward with a straight back, his steps steady and unhurried. His gaze remained fixed ahead, never once shifting to the countless eyes upon him.
The entire hall fell into silence.
No one dared to blink.
No one dared to look away.
His long, dark hair flowed like a void behind him, swaying gently with each step. His presence was heavy—oppressive—like a shadow that swallowed light itself.
He did not look like a man.
He looked like death.
Like a harbinger sent from the abyss—an angel of death who had come to claim souls.
His expression was cold and indifferent, devoid of any emotion, as though everything before him was beneath his notice.
Without greeting anyone, without the slightest pause, he walked forward—past the gathered leaders, past the whispering crowd—until he reached the foot of the imperial throne.
Only then did he stop.
His eyes lifted.
They met the gaze of Emperor Tian Jun.
Tian Jun slowly opened his eyes.
Leaning forward slightly, he swept his gaze across the hall, observing every expression, every flicker of fear and tension reflected in the crowd.
Then, with unhurried elegance, he leaned back, resting one leg over the other, his hand settling calmly upon the armrest.
With a subtle motion of his fingers, he signaled the attendants.
At once, several attendants stepped forward and began chanting in low, rhythmic voices. Their hands moved in practiced patterns, weaving unseen threads through the air.
A barrier formed.
It could not be seen.
It could not be heard.
Yet its presence was unmistakable.
Those within it felt nothing—but should one attempt to reach beyond, an invisible resistance would quietly deny them.
The world outside was cut off.
Only those within remained.
And whatever was about to be said… would not leave this place.
"Alright—everyone. The wait is over."
Emperor Tian Jun's voice echoed through the Grand Hall, instantly silencing the remaining whispers.
"Arata Kurogami," he continued, his tone steady and authoritative, "known among you as the Shadow Controller, has been tasked with investigating the recent brutal killings… as well as the mysterious corpse that appeared on the day of his clash with Lan Fa."
As he spoke, Tian Jun lifted a hand slightly, gesturing toward Arata.
"Speak."
Arata gave a faint nod in acknowledgment before turning to face the assembly.
At once, countless gazes fell upon him.
Some were filled with curiosity—like Sect Leader Sakuya.
Some burned with envy—like Gong Lu.
Some watched merely for amusement—like Xu Min.
Some carried undisguised hostility, their eyes practically screaming, "Why is he still alive?"—Lan Fa among them.
And one…
Watched in silence.
Shen Hua Lan.
The owner of the arena. The one connected to the corpse.
He had no desire to be here… yet he had no choice but to come.
Arata ignored them all.
Their thoughts, their intentions—he already understood them.
And so did the Emperor.
Raising his gaze slightly, Arata spoke.
His voice was calm, yet it carried clearly through the entire hall:
"The corpse… whose blood disappeared…"
He paused briefly.
"And the recent killings…"
A faint stillness settled over the hall.
"They are connected."
Another pause.
"…somehow."
"…Somehow?"
A ripple spread through the Grand Hall.
"How?"
That single question echoed in every mind. Soon, whispers rose like a restless tide, overlapping, colliding—until the entire hall was filled with noise.
Tian Jun frowned slightly.
He cleared his throat.
The simple sound was enough.
"Silence."
The murmurs died instantly.
"Have patience," he said calmly, his voice carrying effortless authority.
"Listen to what he has to say."
With a slight motion of his hand, he gestured toward Arata.
Arata remained unmoved.
His expression did not change as he continued:
"There is no consistent pattern in the killings."
His voice was steady, neither hurried nor slow.
"Among the dead are government officials, soldiers, common workers, nobles, farmers… even guards."
A faint pause.
"A few days ago, a soldier went missing. His body has yet to be found."
The hall grew quieter.
"None of the victims are connected.
Not by status. Not by occupation. Not by blood."
He lifted his gaze slightly.
"Even entire families have been annihilated."
Another pause.
"The most recent case—the Ming family."
A faint stir passed through the crowd.
"The entire residence was wiped out."
His tone remained calm.
"But unlike the corpse found in the arena… their blood remained."
A subtle shift in the atmosphere.
"In fact," Arata continued, "every victim retained their blood."
He paused.
"…except that one corpse."
Silence deepened.
"And the condition of the bodies…" His eyes darkened slightly. "They were not fit to be seen."
"Huh… then could it be a blood-drinking beast?" Luka suddenly spoke up.
"Blood-drinking beast?"
"That would explain it."
"Yes… the blood disappearing—there's no other explanation."
The hall once again descended into discussion, voices rising one after another.
"It is not a blood-drinking beast."
Shen Hua Lan's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
The hall fell silent.
He slowly stood, his expression cold.
"There were no bite marks."
His gaze swept across the crowd, sharp and unwavering.
"Everyone here should know—blood-drinking beasts feed through bites."
His tone grew harsher.
"No bite marks… no blood drained that way."
A brief pause.
"Therefore," he said firmly, "it is not a blood-drinking beast."
With that, he sat back down, his sleeves settling as the hall remained in tense silence.
A low murmur of agreement spread through the hall.
"Indeed… if it were a blood-drinking beast, there should have been bite marks."
"That's only logical."
Luka nodded slightly. "Well… that's not wrong."
"Hmm."
Balder, who had been quietly eating, glanced up with mild interest.
"Didn't expect him to actually use his brain."
"Quite impressive," Loki added with a faint smile. "I wonder if he'd like to become my 'brain partner.'"
"Oh, here he goes again…" Balder sighed, clearly used to such remarks.
"But if it isn't a blood-drinking beast…" Luka frowned, his curiosity growing. "Then what could it be?"
Tian Jun's voice rose—not loud, yet it carried across the entire Grand Hall with ease, instantly calming the restless discussions.
"We are not without direction."
A faint, composed smile appeared on his lips.
"We already possess several clues… and they shall be presented by the Shadow Controller—Arata Kurogami."
Seated upon the throne, Tian Jun leaned back slightly. His white and grey robes flowed elegantly around him, his long hair resting loosely over his shoulders. The crown upon his head gleamed faintly under the hall's light.
He closed his fox-like eyes, as if everything was already within his grasp.
Arata stepped forward.
At once, the atmosphere shifted.
His dark presence spread silently, pressing upon the hall like an unseen weight. His eyes—deep, cold, almost demonic—swept across the gathered leaders.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
He pursed his thin lips before finally speaking.
"First…"
A brief pause.
"I will tell you his name."
The moment those words fell, the entire hall grew alert.
Every gaze sharpened.
"His name… is Aoba."
A faint stir ran through the crowd.
"Aoba is the masked individual you have all heard of," Arata continued calmly. "The one responsible for the killings… and the one we suspect to be connected to the corpse found in the arena."
His voice remained steady, untouched by emotion.
"As for his appearance…"
A pause.
"We do not know it."
The silence deepened.
"The only confirmed detail—"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"—is that he wears a mask."
"A mask," Arata continued calmly, "one that covers his entire face."
His gaze remained steady.
"He possesses long, light-cyan hair… longer than mine. And he carries a black flute."
After speaking, he fell silent.
His brows furrowed slightly as if something had caught in his thoughts. One hand rose unconsciously, fingers resting against his chin as he sank into contemplation.
The hall grew still.
No one dared to interrupt.
Moments passed.
The gathered leaders exchanged glances, their eyes subtly communicating the same question—
Should we interrupt him… or not?
Some instinctively looked toward Tian Jun.
But the Emperor remained unmoving, his eyes closed, as if allowing Arata all the time in the world.
So they waited.
After a while, Arata's eyes opened again.
"I believe…" he said slowly, "that Aoba may—or may not—be responsible for the disappearance of the blood."
A ripple of confusion spread through the hall.
What does he mean?
Arata exhaled faintly and continued,
"First."
He raised a single finger.
"If he is responsible… then a question arises."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"Where did the blood go?"
"And how was it taken?"
His voice remained calm, yet every word carried weight.
"As already established, there are no signs of a blood-drinking beast."
A brief pause.
"Second."
He raised another finger.
"The evidence before us suggests the opposite."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"In every prior killing attributed to Aoba… the bodies retained their blood."
A stir passed through the hall.
"Every corpse—without exception."
His eyes darkened.
"Except for the one found in the arena."
Silence deepened.
"That corpse alone was completely drained."
He lowered his hand slowly.
"There are only two possibilities."
The entire hall leaned into his words.
"First—Aoba is not responsible for the disappearance of the blood."
A faint pause.
"Second—he is responsible… and deliberately removed the blood."
His gaze grew colder.
"To conceal something."
A subtle tension gripped the air.
"Something within the blood… that could reveal his identity."
Or…
"Something we have yet to understand."
Arata fell silent.
"That is all."
A brief silence settled over the Grand Hall.
No one spoke.
The weight of Arata's words lingered in the air, pressing down on every mind present.
Moments passed.
Then—
"Then what about the disappearances?"
The silence shattered.
All eyes turned.
The one who spoke was Sect Leader Xu Min, clad in dark-blue robes, his expression sharp and probing.
"We understand the killings. The corpse. The vanished blood," he continued, his tone steady yet edged with intent. "But what of the people who have gone missing?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Surely… we cannot ignore that, can we?"
A murmur of agreement spread through the hall.
"That's right."
"The disappearances are just as important."
"How can that be left unanswered?"
All gazes shifted once more—
toward Arata.
Yet he said nothing.
He stood there, unmoving, his expression calm and unreadable, as though the pressure surrounding him did not exist.
The question hung in the air.
Unanswered.
Everyone knew.
If Arata Kurogami chose not to speak… then no one could force him.
No matter who they were.
Yet that did not stop them.
They pressed him deliberately—subtly, yet persistently.
Because this was his responsibility.
He had been tasked with investigating everything—
the disappearances, the brutal killings, the mysterious corpse, and the blood that had vanished without a trace.
If he failed to provide answers…
If he failed to produce results…
Then questions would arise.
Doubts.
Accusations.
And perhaps—
replacement.
Arata understood all of this.
Perfectly.
He knew their intentions.
Their pressure.
Their hidden schemes.
And precisely because of that—
he remained silent.
The hall grew tense.
No one was willing to back down.
"Since you are so worried about the disappearances," Arata's words fell like frost across the hall, his tone sharp, cutting through the murmurs, "why don't you start your own investigation?"
Xu Min's face turned red with anger and disbelief. "Y-You… but you were assigned by the Emperor for this case—"
"Assigned by the Emperor?" Arata's voice grew colder, carrying the weight of iron. He took a slow step forward, his void-like hair swaying slightly, and his eyes fixed on Xu Min like twin blades. "Exactly. Then tell me… who are you, that you dare question me?"
The hall fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. Even the air seemed to still. Every sect leader's gaze was locked on him, yet no one dared speak. The faint rustle of silk robes sounded like a whisper against the storm of tension he commanded.
Xu Min's words caught in his throat. He opened his mouth, but the chill in Arata's stare froze them, as if the hall itself had become a cage.
Arata's expression did not waver; his voice remained calm, yet every syllable dripped with authority and disdain. "Remember this: I answer to the Emperor alone. Any questions from the likes of you… are meaningless."
The words echoed through the Grand Hall, leaving a weight that pressed on every chest, a reminder that in this room, power was absolute—and Arata's presence was law.
Luka's brows knitted, his voice low and troubled. "They are so bad."
Balder's eyes darkened with disdain.
"Arata is a thorn in their path… of course they would react this way."
Loki's lips curved into a faint, grim smile. "He has calculated even this scenario. Nothing escapes him."
The three exchanged glances, worry etched deep into their expressions.
Every instinct screamed that Arata was no ordinary man—he was a storm brewing silently, and they could only watch with apprehension.
Lan Fa's patience had long since frayed. He rubbed his temples and let out a long, weary sigh. "Now? Why now? Why must they bring this up? I just want to leave. I'm tired… I can't listen anymore." He pressed his hands to his face, as if trying to shield himself from the weight of it all.
Shen Hua Lan, seated beside him, yawned lightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Of course they'll bring it up," he said, his voice smooth, almost musical. He waved lazily toward the hall. "Look at Xu Min. He thought he could corner Arata… arrogance and delusion. It completely backfired on him. I can almost see the fire boiling in him right now. But that cunning demon Arata—he has surely uncovered the truth behind those disappearances. And the Emperor knows as well. They're merely putting on a show."
Lan Fa's eyes narrowed slightly, confusion mingling with curiosity.
"If he knows… then why not speak? Why keep it a secret?"
Shen Hua Lan's smile widened, sharp and knowing. "Simple," he said, his words flowing like a delicate melody. "He wants to remain… in control."
"In control?" Lan Fa's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Shen Hua Lan leaned back, eyes glinting with the confidence of a man who had seen every move on the chessboard. "Just wait and see," he murmured, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Everything will reveal itself in time."